The spacer boards shall be made from corrugated paperboard with a single wall
construction (three-layer lamination) and type "B" fluting that runs parallel
with the length of the board. Each spacer board shall have 5 score lines at each
end, running perpendicular with the length of the board. The corners shall be
rounded. The edges shall be serrated.

Score LinesEach spacer board shall have 5 score lines at each
end, running perpendicular with the length of the board. The score lines shall
be spaced at 1 inch intervals. For the letter size spacer board, the innermost
score line shall begin 7 1/16 inches in from each end. For the legal size spacer
board, the innermost score line shall begin 8 inches in from each end.

Alkaline ReserveThe paperboard shall have a minimum of 3 percent
calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, or a combination of both evenly
distributed throughout all plies and layers, when tested according to ASTM
D4988-89.

Hydrogen Ion Concentration (ph)The pH value of the paperboard
shall be between 8.0 and 10.0 when tested according to TAPPI T-509om-88.

LigninTo demonstrate the adequacy of bleaching or lignin
removal, all plies and layers of the paperboard shall give a negative reading to
the phloroglucinol test when tested according to ASTM D1030 or shall have a
Kappa number of 5 or less when tested according to TAPPI T-236cm-85.

Color retentionDyes used to color the paperboard shall show no
bleeding when soaked in distilled water for 48 hours while held in direct
contact with white bond paper. The board shall not show a loss or gain of more
than 5 points of brightness after exposure in a Sunlighter II apparatus for 96
hours or a fadeometer for 36 hours, when tested according to TAPPI T-452om-87.

Adhesive

A stable adhesive shall be used when adhering the two paperboard facings to
each side of the fluted inner paperboard sheet. When aged in an oven at 50
degrees centigrade and 87 percent relative humidity, the adhesive used shall not
soften or run, but shall hold the components of the corrugated paperboard firmly
together. The properties of the adhesive shall not detract from the properties
of the paperboard (i.e. reduce the alkaline reserve, increase the percentage of
sulfur, decrease the pH, decrease the stiffness). The adhesive shall not be
visible through or alter the color of the paperboard. If it is necessary to
buffer the adhesive, the same buffer as in the paperboard (i.e. calcium
carbonate, magnesium carbonate, or a combination of both) shall be used.

Workmanship

Each spacer board shall meet the requirements stated in this specification,
shall be constructed in accordance with good commercial practice, and shall be
free of imperfections that may affect its utility or aesthetic appearance.

Each spacer board shall be made to the dimensions specified. All edges shall
be serrated uniformly and shall be free of untrimmed paper fragments. The
corners of the spacer boards shall be evenly rounded and smooth. The plane of
the spacer boards shall be flat and shall show no warping, twisting, buckling,
or other distortion. The fluted inner paperboard sheet shall not be compressed
on the surface or at the edges. The spacer boards shall contain no surface dirt
(smudges, fingerprints, and the like) and no oozed adhesive and shall not be
marred (dents, bumps, and the like) in any way.

Scores shall be uniform and deep enough to permit easy, precise folding and
the retention of maximum strength along the score line. All score lines shall be
free of fraying, cracks, and breaks.

The adhesive shall be uniformly applied to all surfaces to provide a firm,
even attachment of all components.

Identification Markings

The following information shall be legibly punched on the center bottom of
each spacer board: name of manufacturer, pH range, year of manufacture, and the
word letter for spacer boards intended for letter size archives boxes or legal
for spacer boards intended for legal size archives boxes.

Preparation for Delivery

Packaging

The spacer boards shall be packed in a standard commercial container that is
sealed with tape. The number of spacer boards to be packed in each container
shall be specified in the purchase order.

Marking

The outside of each packing container shall be legibly marked with the
following information: the purchase order number and the type, size, and number
of spacer boards packed in the container.

Quality Assurance Provisions

Tests

Test procedures and controls specified in this document shall be used to
determine the quality of the product. Other procedures and controls must be
approved by the National Archives before test results will be accepted. Unless
otherwise indicated, the tests shall be performed at and the samples conditioned
to standard conditions of 73 degrees Fahrenheit (plus or minus 3.5 degrees) and
50 percent relative humidity (plus or minus 2 percent RH.) (See TAPPI T -
402om-88.)

Test Methods

The requirements for paperboard quality and characteristics shall be
tested in accordance with specified test methods of the American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Technical Association of the Pulp and
Paper Industry (TAPPI).

Publications describing these tests may be ordered directly from the
technical associations at the following addresses:

The requirements for paperboard quality shall be tested according to the
following methods:

Requirements

Test Method

Rosin (Raspail test)

ASTM D549-88

Reducible Sulfur

TAPPI T-406om-88

Sizing

ASTM D4988-89

Alkaline reserve

ASTM D4988-89

Hydrogen ion concentration

TAPPI T-509om-88

Lignin-Phloroglucinol-Spot Stains--Kappa number

ASTM D1030, X5

TAPPI T-236cm-85

Color Retention

TAPPI T-452om-87

Responsibility for Tests

Unless otherwise specified in the purchase order, the supplier is responsible
for the performance of all requirements specified herein. Unless otherwise
specified, the supplier may use his or her own facilities or any commercial
laboratory acceptable to the National Archives. The National Archives reserves
the right to perform any of the tests set forth in the specification where such
tests are deemed necessary to assure that supplies and services conform to
prescribed requirements.

Inspection

Examination Criteria

An examination shall be made so determine whether the spacer board complies
with the Requirements section (see pages 1-3). The qualities and characteristics
that shall be regarded as unacceptable in the spacer board are listed below.

Not style specified

Not dimensions specified

Not materials (qualities or characteristics) specified

Not color specified

Not construction specified

Not identification markings specified

Workmanship

Edges not serrated evenly, not free of untrimmed paper fragments

Scores not deep enough to permit precise folding during construction;
fraying, cracks, or breaks along any scores

Fluted inner paperboard sheet compressed on the surface or at the edges

Comers not evenly rounded and smooth

Surfaces not clean or smooth: not free of oozed adhesive, smudges,
fingerprints or dirt; not free of lumps or indentations

Surfaces not free of blisters, knots, or shives

Surfaces torn, scuffed, or otherwise physically
marred

Packaging for Delivery

An examination shall be made to determine whether the packaging of the spacer
boards for delivery complies with the requirements of Preparation for Delivery
section of this specification. The characteristics that shall be regarded as
unacceptable in the packaging are listed below.

Not number of spacer boards per container specified in contract

Container not sealed with tape

Container not legibly marked with the purchase order number

Container not legibly marked with type of spacer boards within

Container not legibly marked with size of spacer boards within

Container not legibly marked with number of spacer boards
within

Responsibility for Inspection

Unless otherwise specified in the purchase order, the supplier is responsible
for the performance of all inspection requirements specified herein. The
National Archives reserves the right to perform any of the inspections set forth
in the specification where such inspections are deemed necessary to assure that
supplies and service conform to the prescribed requirements.

Sampling for Examination

Construction and WorkmanshipTo sample spacer boards for
construction and workmanship, spacer boards shall be selected according to
MI-STD 105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality level of 4.0
percent defective from each lot of material offered.

TestingTo sample spacer boards for testing, spacer boards shall
be selected according to MIL-STD-105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable
quality level of 2.5 percent defective from each lot of material offered.

Preparation for DeliveryTo sample spacer boards for compliance
with packaging and marking requirements, spacer boards shall be selected
according to MIL-STD-105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality
level of 4.0 defective from each lot of material offered.

Sampling MethodThe sampling of spacer boards for examination
shall be carried out according to methods specified in sampling procedures and
"Tables for Inspection by Attributes", MIL-STD-105E, issued January 2,1990 and
available from Naval Publications and Forms Center; Standardization Document
Order Department, Building 4, Section D; 700 Robbins Avenue; Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19111-5094.